Sixteen players contributed at least a point, as the No. 10 UMass hockey team demolished Vermont 8-2 on the road Saturday to complete a sweep.
The Minutemen scored five goals in the second period after holding a tight 1-0 lead after the first.
“It took us a little while to get our feet under us, but once we got going, the kids played really well,” UMass coach Greg Carvel said. “The special teams were outstanding tonight and we got a lot of scoring up and down the lineup. The scores were lopsided, but we had to earn them this weekend, and we played really well.”
Reed Lebster contributed a goal and two assists. Bobby Trivigno and Lucas Mercuri added two assists each.
Matthew Kessel, Cal Kiefiuk, Josh Lopina and Scott Morrow each had a goal and an assist.
Ryan Ufko, Oliver MacDonald and Aaron Boehlinger found the net once each. Cam Donaldson, Garrett Wait, Ryan Lautenbach, Colin Felix, Anthony Del Gaizo and Eric Faith put up one assist each.
Matt Murray saved 22 shots in 51 minutes, and Luke Pavicich finished the game with three third-period saves for UMass.
The Minutemen scored four times on the power play in four chances and held the Catamounts (6-23-2, 4-15) to 0-for-3 with a man advantage.
UMass (19-10-2, 14-6-2 Hockey East) is in sole possession of first place in Hockey East with 46 points, five points clear of the field. Merrimack and Northeastern are tied for second with 41. They face each other next weekend after the Huskies play the Catamounts in Vermont on Tuesday.
UMass’ win clinched a home game in the Hockey East quarterfinals March 12. Every team in the league makes the tournament, but the top five in the standings will receive a bye to the quarterfinals. The semifinals and finals will be at Boston’s TD Garden on March 18 and 19.
Tickets for the quarterfinal game at the Mullins Center are on sale now.
The Minutemen will close the regular season with a home and home Friday and Saturday against Boston College. UMass will visit Conte Forum at 7 p.m. Friday before a 4:30 p.m. Saturday senior day game at the Mullins Center.
Mathematically, there are four teams left alive for at least a share of the Hockey East title. UMass controls its own destiny. If the Minutemen win both games against the Eagles (ninth in the conference), they claim their second regular season conference championship.
Northeastern (22-10-1, 13-7-1) has the most games remaining of the quartet at three and could finish with 50 with three victories. Merrimack (18-12-1, 13-9) is only left with its two games against the Huskies, so the Warriors can max out with 47 points.
UMass Lowell (18-9-3, 13-8-1) can only wish for a share of the championship since the River Hawk can only hit 46 points at most.
So, the Minutemen need at least five points in the season-closing series to ensure they win the title outright. Losses or overtime wins by teams behind them widen their margin for error. Wins in regulation are worth three points, while teams get two points for a victory in overtime or shootout and one point for an overtime or shootout loss.